A new Hajj Yatra policy this week plan to make sure a smooth Hajj to Saudi Arabia, government sources have announced. A key feature of the policy, expected to be executed during the next year, will be to renew the option of sending pilgrims via the sea route to Jeddah, after a break of more than two decades, they said.

The option of conveying the faithful from the coastal city of Mumbai to Jeddah has been considered by the Supreme Court in a 2012 order asked the Centre to abolish by 2022 the airways subsidy offered to Hajj pilgrims.

The government feels the sea route will help cut down the travel expenses.

The Muslims, however, will continue to have the option of travel to their holiest site by air from 21 embarkation points in the country, including Delhi and Mumbai, the sources said.

Another feature of the policy is to limit the pilgrimage to the once-in-a-lifetime affair, they said, adding the government will come out with the policy this week.

"It is in line with the apex court's order and revives the option of sending pilgrims via ships to Saudi Arabia as it is a cheaper yet comfortable option," a source said.

The sources said a modern ship can ferry 4,000 to 5,000 passengers at a time and cover the 2300-odd nautical miles distance between the two cities in two-three days.

Before the sea route was closed, it used to take nearly a week for the pilgrims to reach Jeddah from the Yellow Gate in Mumbai's Mazgaon, the source added.

Saudi Arabia had earlier this year increased India's Hajj quota from 1.36 lakh to 1.70 lakh. A total of 1.35 lakh Indian pilgrims undertook the pilgrimage last year.

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